LAWKS! RICH IS RUNNING THE BRIGHTON MARATHON FOR US IN A BUS!

Hi! And THANK YOU for checking out my page.

I have dragged you here because, yes, I am indeed running the Brighton Marathon on the 6th April and with a fair wind and your help I might just make it.

But WHY?? I hear you cry. And a fine question it is.

No, I'm not just doing this for the dark, rainswept, early mornings and the arthritic knee pain. Although, you're right, what more incentive could a person need?

No, there is more to it. The truth? You can't handle the truth! Well, let's see...

I recently started work at US IN A BUS, a small charity based in Surrey. I've been working as an Interaction Practitioner for the past 3 months and it's been a remarkable experience. We work in pairs alongside those with complex and profound needs in their residential settings. Using the principles of 'Intensive Interaction' we try to promote for each individual a sense of being heard and valued and to connect them to each other and their environment in meaningful ways. In the words of Us in a Bus: :

"We are a registered charity that specialises in working with people with profound learning disabilities and complex needs who can be difficult to reach. Our aim with each person is the same: we believe that each of us should have the opportunity to discover more about ourselves and to express our emotions and creativity and that
we can help our Service Users to live a more fulfilled life and enjoy experiences that most of us take for granted."

To get a greater sense of how we work and the history and context of the charity and Intensive Interaction please visit the website here usinabus.org.uk or click on the logo at the right of the page - yes, just up there.. that's it!

This is going to be my first marathon and I'm running it alongside my colleague Russell, a care worker from one of the residential homes and three excellent others. Between us we are hoping to raise as much as we can towards funding equipment, training and projects to allow more service users to benefit.

My personal objective is to raise £500 but anything you can contribute would be wonderful. In return I promise I will actually do this thing and keep you up to date on my progress ;-) Thank you for all your support, it's really going to help our service users and keep me stepping out of that front door on those rubbish mornings!

Cheers! Rich.

By the way - to make a donation just click on the green 'Give Now' button at the top and select the pink 'Donate' option. Thanks!